Lucasville man apprehended, facing multiple drug charges

A fugitive from Lucasville wanted for not returning to court to begin his prison sentence has been captured and arrested.

A joint effort of law enforcement of the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office and Portsmouth Police Department resulted in the arrest of Michael J. Craig a.k.a., “Taz,” 42, at his residence located at 743 Crowe Hollow Road in Lucasville, on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Officers from the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force arrested Craig on outstanding warrants for his arrest that had been issued by the Scioto County Common Pleas Court, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Craig was sentenced to serve four years and 11 months in February of 2015, in an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Facility after being convicted on charges of illegal manufacture of methamphetamine and aggravated possession of drugs, all of which emanated from a case investigated by the Task Force and the Ohio Highway State Patrol back in October of 2014.

Craig failed to return to the court to begin his prison sentence and was indicted by a Scioto County Grand Jury for failing to appear.

Craig was indicted by a Scioto County Grand Jury in December of 2015 for the offenses of illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, a felony of the 2nd degree, illegal assembly and / or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine a felony of the 3rd degree.

Additional charges include failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, a felony of the 3rd degree, stemming from an additional case investigated by the Task Force and the Ohio State Highway Patrol in May of 2015.

Both cases against Craig were presented by the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities said.

Craig is currently lodged in the Scioto County Jail awaiting to be conveyed to prison and will also be arraigned in Scioto County Common Pleas Court on the additional offenses.

Sheriff Donini and Chief Ware expressed appreciation for public assistance in locating Craig, and request that anyone with information pertaining to drugs to contact the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force tip line at 740-354-5656 or email [email protected] Authorities assure that all tips will receive anonymity.